Ric Orlando battles for ‘Chopped’ Champions title, $50,000

Capital Region chef Ric Orlando returned to the Food Network series “Chopped” for the third episode on Tuesday night, this time competing for $50,000 and the honor of being named the very first “Chopped” grand champion.

Ric’s quote: “I’m very serious about not being serious about what I do. But the judges love the way I cook, and I’m trying to show them how badly I want to be the grand champion. … I think the judges will appreciate my wit and sensibility.”

Drama: Ric’s wild boar does not caramelize as quickly as he would like, so he tosses it into the oven. With less than 15 minutes left he checks the boar, “and it’s dead raw.” Cuts rack into single chops and tosses on griddle again.

Drama, too: Zukas finishes hurriedly, lacking finesse. Ric says, “I look at Jason’s plate, and it looks like it was rushed, and he’s upset, and I feel elated.”

Judges’ comments: “Ric, I think it’s a very deliberative entree, and you’ve really thought about this. Very nicely composed, and the boar, on the outside, was really great flavor, but the inside was really tough.” And: “The mac-n-cheese is absolutely delicious, and that you threw the currants in there was, I thought, a brilliant idea.”

Zakarian: “Ric, you know we’re all flying really close to the sun here, and today you just didn’t make it. We loved you macaroni and cheese, but it just wasn’t enough.”

Ric’s parting comment: “I knew I just didn’t do it as good as I should have. Sooner or later good things come to an end. I was trying too hard to win and not trying just to cook.”

Ric’s 11 p.m. Facebook comment: ” F*ck me–That was the most exhilarating thing ever, except watching my kids get delivered, of course! Que sera–Back to work tomorrow! This experience made me a better person and a better chef, not doubt in my mind.Rock on, Baby!, Rock on! Thanks for all, and I mean ALL of the love! It is the greatest reward one can ask for.”

Ric is the best restaurant mind I have ever dealt with. Chopped is by far the best show on The Food Network but after all is said and done, sometimes it just comes down to plain ol’ dumb luck. A different basket of ingredients and we may have very well been celebrating Albany’s (or Saugerties’) favorite son. No shame. Ric stayed true throughout! There is so much crap on The Food Network (no disrespect to NYS’s next firstlady) they should consider giving Ric his own show. Over the 3 stages of this competition, Ric delivered some of the best dishes and some of the best one liners The Food Network has ever had.

I am glad that Ric got “chopped”. Perhaps this will deflate his blown up ego a tad. Ok, so he has a little talent, but I work for the man and I can tell you that if his people skills are any measure of his cooking skills, he should be working the overnight shift at Denny’s. He certainly is not “all that.”

Sad to see Ric get chopped, I was really rooting for him. Everything he made just looked so good, like he effortlessly conjures up really strong flavors.

I guess he did deserve to go though. I think attempting to roast the whole rack of boar was a bad mistake given the time constraints. It seems that step one in any of these challenges is to minimize the cooking time for the main protein, as many are chopped for undercooking (or trying to fix an undercooked dish).

Throughout all of the episodes, Ric really showed a great personality. I know he had a public access or basic cable show before, but wouldn’t he be perfect for a cooking show?

As an aside, I love how some people (Bobby I’m talking to you) comment about local chefs / restaurant owners and will try to knock them because of a bad experience working for the person. Guess what – bosses usually suck, that’s life. Deal with it, or work your ass off so that you can be bossing someone around someday. If he were a really nice guy in the kitchen I bet his restaurants would fail.

Vin, and country girl..well, I do have my own kitchen and am a nice guy-my staff does not perform diligently out of fear. They love their jobs and enjoy working with me. And country girl, do you really think my real name is Bobby Gainsville? It’s a joke (Ric Orlando).

#4 ouch – I hope Ric shows his people skills and sense of humor after he reads your post.

I was hoping Ric would win but I felt the judges decision was fair. I think they were expecting more creativity from him based on past performances and could not get passed the improperly cooked boar. However, hard not to think the producers were looking for a good story in the winner and judging from the cryfest at the end I am guessing Kleenex was a major sponsor.

Congratulation on the bronze and no money but still quite an honor and hopefully a boost to his profile in the industry.

I think Ric has a good personality for TV and has the culinary knowledge and creativity to do his own show. The judges seemed intrigued by his cooking style (except for maybe Alex who was seemed to be giving points for humility) which would add something unique to the Food Network.

Based on what I’ve seen from the contestants from all of the Next Food Network Star shows, Ric ought to send in an audition tape – I think he’d do well.

I watched all of the episodes and had it narrowed down to Ric and the eventual winner. I thought Ric was better than the gentleman who was runner-up but then again I didn’t taste the food. I do think they made the right choice with the winner but Ric made a very very good showing of himself. His confidence comes out in his cooking and although I haven’t eaten at his restaurant I am certainly going to. Very nice job chef Ric.

I did not watch the show. But I have had interactions with Ric……..his name should start with a “D”. Bobby Gainsville it is a shame that you have to explain the joke, very funny!
PS I did not get it either until explained to my simple mind. That was Good.

1) There are some amazing chefs who are horrible with people, and though Ric isn’t one of them, you’re a chef – you of all people should know that a chef’s people skills and cooking ability have no correlation.